Start with your specialty’s JCIE syllabus, regulations and sample questions. Review operative experience and practise structured clinical discussion with supervisors. Sitting dates and application deadlines differ by specialty; use the JCIE calendar for your examination.
JCIE
Intercollegiate FRCS Specialty Examinations
The specialty fellowship examinations taken near the end of surgical training. MRCS supports progression from core training; FRCS is the later specialty exit examination required for surgical CCST.
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Components
Examining body: JCIE
Cost: 2026: £2,000 (£580 Section 1 + £1,420 Section 2). From 1 January 2027: £2,070 (£600 + £1,470), as listed by JCIE.
Who can sit it
Applicants need the experience and competencies in their specialty’s regulations and three supportive structured references. For UK and Irish trainees, the principal referee is the Training Programme Director. Non-training applicants have additional experience and reference requirements. Use the current JCIE guidance and specialty regulations before applying.
When NCHDs sit it
Usually in the final two years of specialty training, once the programme and referees confirm readiness. There are limits on attempts and time between sections; agree the first sitting with your Training Programme Director.
Exam format
Section 1: written
Two papers of 120 single-best-answer questions, delivered by computer at Pearson VUE centres in the UK and Ireland. · 2 hours 15 minutes per paper.
Meet the Section 1 standard before proceeding to Section 2.
Section 2: clinical and oral
Structured clinical interviews covering the chosen specialty, with scenario-based and patient-centred components.
The format and syllabus are specialty-specific. The examination standard is that of a day-one consultant.
Training links
HST Cardiothoracic Surgery
Required examination.
HST General Surgery
Required examination.
HST Neurosurgery
Required examination.
HST Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Required examination.
HST Otolaryngology (ENT)
Required examination.
HST Paediatric Surgery
Required examination.
HST Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Required examination.
HST Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery
Required examination.
HST Urology
Required examination.
HST Vascular Surgery
Required examination.
Preparation resources
College guidance, question banks, books and courses, grouped by format. Descriptions identify their coverage; provider pages give current prices and access terms.
College guidance
Choose the relevant surgical specialty for its syllabus, regulations and official sample questions.
Application documents, structured reference forms and candidate guidance.
Sitting dates and application deadlines by specialty and section.
Check the provider for current prices and access terms. No affiliate links.
Preparing
Facts last verified 2026-10-25. Content updated 2026-10-24.